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“Are you feeling better?”
Her concern seeenuine to him “Yes,” he assured her He studied her face for several seconds and then asked, “And how is it that you seem so familiar to me? I knoe have never met, for I would reuards who traveled with you watched overthem to do so”
“They didn’t need ratitude”
“Yes, you’re right,” he agreed He then repeated what the priest had told hiuard and was curious to hearabout St Biel, and Gabrielle was happy to answer his questions
She liked him Unlike his brother, Lia Woht, because of his easy suish sense of hu stories about pranks he and Col the afternoon with Lia at the MacHugh holding Best of all, Liam never mentioned the reason she was there, and for that she was most thankful
GABRIELLE WAS ACCUSTOMED to eating herboth Col at the head of the table, and Lia at the opposite end, stood when she entered the hall with Father Gelroy trailing behind Liam beckoned to her while Colm, stone-faced as always, siiving it ht She smiled at Liam as she walked to Colm and took the seat adjacent to him
Father Gelroy glanced in both directions before taking a chair next to Liam
The room was quiet until Maurna carried in trenchers fashioned fro, salt cod, mutton, and salt beef Last to be placed on the table were fat loaves of fresh brown bread Still hot from the oven, the bread’s aroma filled the hall
Detere Colo today?”
“As expected”
She waited for hie of bread Father Gelroy offered her and tore off a piece as she tried to think of so else to talk about
The ht, she continued to tear the bread into shreds
Finally, Gabrielle spoke “What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I was but curious”
Father Gelroy began to tell an a story, and Gabrielle looked down at the table She’d torn the bread into ano one had noticed, she scooped up the crumbs and dropped handfuls onto the trencher
Once the priest had finished his story, she turned to Colm and asked, “Is the weather unusually mild this time of year?”
“No”
Gabrielle was frustrated Nothing orking Surely there was a topic that would get his attention Shebuilt
Lia quietly to the priest, but he heard what she asked and leaned forward to answer
Gabrielle sighed and reached for another wedge of bread, but Col his hand on top of hers His voice hisper soft “Why are you so nervous with ht?”
Tonight? She was always nervous when she ith hi, unless, of course, it was a purely physical reaction, which didn’t ood-looking one He was the complete opposite in appearance and temperament from his brother, and yet it was Col with her, she decided, to prefer such a flawed and rude man
“Gabrielle, answer me”
“Should I give you one-word answers like you’ve been givingto have a decent conversation with you”
Lia about Monroe?”
“There are ru of substance yet”
Liam looked from the priest to Gabrielle as he explained “Laird Monroe was murdered”
“We know,” Father Gelroy said “Lady Gabrielle was supposed to marry the laird”
“That’s right, she was I heard about thebefore I was ambushed”
“May I ask why you were there?” Gelroy said
Lia someone”
“Who?” Gelroy prodded
“Just someone”
The priest was about to ask another question, but Lia a woive you her name”
Gelroy blushed “If only there was a chapel, you could go to confession”
Lia over ill be the next laird? Braeden believes there will be war a them”
For the next ten minutes the brothers debated who should take over leadership of the clan
“Do you think they will ever find out who killed the laird?” Gabrielle asked
“We won’t rest until we find the culprit,” Liam said
“We?” Father Gelroy inquired
“Lairds Buchanan, Sinclair, Maitland, and MacHugh,” he answered “They have already coether to share information”
Gabrielle hoped there would be justice for Laird Monroe “No man should die from a knife in his back,” she said
“It is a cowardly act,” Colreed
She stared at his hand resting on top of hers It ice the size of hers and warm, wonderfully warm How could a simple touch please her so? Was she so starved for affection that his nearness would evoke such a reaction? He probably wasn’t even aware of what he was doing Disgusted with herself, she turned away fro about life at the abbey
At every opportunity, Gelroy woulda chapel for the clan He gave several exa subtle
“A chapel would provide a holy and proper place to hear Liam’s confession and to absolve him of any sins he may have committed with the Monroe woman,” he assured Colm “And you, Laird,” he continued, “I could hear your confession anytime you wished…even twice a day if necessary”
Gabrielle burst into laughter “Father, I think perhaps you should just ask our laird to build you a chapel”
“Our laird?” Liam asked
She lifted her shoulders and looked at Colm “It would seem that you are Father Gelroy’s laird now…and mine as well Is that not so?”
His expression was inscrutable when he answered “It is so”
Lia here? Why is it so?” he asked “And are you thinking about building the priest a church?”
“Perhaps,” he allowed
“There are souls in need of saving here,” Gelroy said with a pointed look at Liam
“Building a church will save our souls?” Col
“It would be a step in the right direction Your clan would have to be encouraged to go inside, get down on their knees, and pray God’s forgiveness for their past sins” Wagging his finger at Liam, he added, “And mean it…with a sincere heart After what happened to you, I would think you would want to be in God’s good graces”
In the blink of an eye the conversation turned serious “Colot from Finney’s Flat to the abbey”
“You could have walked,” Gelroy suggested
“No, I could not”
Gelroy sighed “I have already explained that I cannot tell you”
“But you know, don’t you?” Colm asked
“Have you found the men who hurt Liam?” Gabrielle asked in a rush
“You would know if I had”
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“But you won’t give up searching, will you?” she asked
“No, I won’t”
“You’ve still to answer ot to the abbey, don’t you? Were you perchance near Finney’s Flat when I was there?”
“You cannot think this dear priest had anything to do with—”
Colm squeezed her hand “No, we don’t think he was involved It’s our hope that he ht have seen the men who tried to kill Liam”
“I was at the abbey before Liam came to us,” Gelroy said
“I know you’re holding so back, and I want to knohat it is,” Colm demanded